BMW 745Le xDrive 2020
BMW 745Le xDrive 2020
Model Year: 2020 Kilometers Driven: 5000km
OVERALL RATING: 95 POINTS
Value for Money: 92 points
Enjoyment of Ownership for 2 weeks: 94 points
Enjoyment of Ownership for 2 years: 96 points
Cost of Ownership: 75 points
Sportiness: 85 points
Comfort: 96 points
Resale Value: 80 points
Image Value: 90 points
Likeability Score: 70 points
Production Years: 2015 -
Engine: 3.0L I6 + electric motor
Peak Power: 394 hp 290 kW
Peak Torque: 600 Nm
Acceleration 0-100km: 5.2 s
Top Speed: 250 km/h (limited)
Price Range: €95,000-€135,000
Pros: Design, quality, comfort, quietness, engine, driving characteristics, everyday usability, balance, safety features, seats
Cons: Price as a used car
Alternative: Mercedes Benz 560 e AMG Sport 2019
Summary: I've been lucky as my personal car was a BMW 750 Li xDrive for almost a decade. I considered it the best large sedan in terms of driving performance. Now, testing the latest generation similar large BMW 745 Le xDrive, a comparison is inevitable.
The new 745 Le is an impressive package of comfort, power, eco-friendliness, safety, and electronics. But is the difference compared to the model introduced in 2009 as superior as it initially seems? Does an additional investment of around €100,000 provide a significantly better BMW?
Design:
I've always liked the appearance of the 700 series, except for the fourth generation launched in 2001, which received much criticism for its styling. The design of the new 745 also divides opinions, especially its massive grille, which is 40% larger than before and considered even ostentatious. However, there's no longer any question whether it's a 5 or 7 series car. I like the new design language – the car looks balanced, stylish, and prestigious. It also has just the right amount of self-assuredness and prominence akin to the company's other luxury car, Rolls-Royce. The points narrowly go to the new model.
Engine and Environmental Friendliness:
The engine in the 2012 750 Li is a 444-horsepower twin-turbo V8. It takes about five seconds to accelerate from 0-100 km/h, and the top speed is limited to 250 kilometers per hour. The 2020 745 Le is, in line with the times, a hybrid equipped with a 3.0-liter inline-six and an 83-kilowatt electric motor. The combined power is 394 horsepower, and the acceleration is comparable to the V8 model.
The biggest differences are found in consumption numbers and emissions – the official values for the 750 model are 8.9L/100km, while the 745 has an astonishingly low 2.6L/100km. Additionally, the 745 has an electric range of about 50 km, which suffices for many daily drives, extending refuel intervals significantly.
However, in terms of power feel and engine sound, the 750 is clearly superior, but it's undeniable that a twin-turbo V8 at the front of a large executive car feels more outdated today than it truly is. The 745 provides almost the same power, acceleration, and top speed as the 750 but with significantly less consumption and an electric option. In this category, the points again go to the new model.
Comfort and Driver’s Environment:
Even after driving both cars alternately for several days, I found only small differences related to driving comfort, despite the current 750 having been in use for seven years. Both cars are extremely quiet, and the acoustic differences inside the car are minimal, despite the new model's improved insulation in the chassis, B-pillars, and even seatbelt slots. The glass used in the rear and side windows is also thicker. Both models have impeccably functioning adaptive suspension.
BMW's Comfort seats have long been the best in their class. The new model does not disappoint, even though the seats are even more massive.
The dashboard, however, has been completely revamped with an improved quality impression. The biggest disappointment is with the dashboard display graphics, reminiscent of a flight simulator display, which might not suit an executive car. When the center console display is also mounted on top of the dashboard like in BMW's cheaper versions, the overall look and quality fall short compared to main competitors like Mercedes' S-Class and Audi's A8, where all displays are integrated into the dashboard as a unified whole. In the previous generation 750, the dashboard display is digital and, unlike the new model, integrated into the dashboard. I find it more stylish and functional. The 750's user interface is also, in my opinion, more user-friendly, although there are fewer settings. As a whole, this category ends in a draw.
Safety:
The large BMW has been the safest in its class - it was so eight years ago and still is. The number of safety features has naturally increased, and the new 745 has all the safety features available on the market. The 750 also has a rather advanced ConnectedDrive system that facilitates driving, including a pedestrian recognition system for assisting in low visibility conditions. However, the points naturally go to the new model.
Driving Characteristics:
Driving characteristics are the main reason why I previously chose a BMW 7-series over Mercedes and Audi as my personal car. The 7-series steering, transmission, and all driving-related aspects are nearly perfect in my opinion. BMW's steering feel in the premium class has been unrivaled, with the car feeling smaller and sportily firm.
The steering of the new 745, aided by several invisible electronic functions, feels initially light, but fortunately, the typical BMW precision and road-feel return at higher speeds. Both cars feature superb air suspension, adaptive damping, and active roll stabilization. The ride is supremely comfortable and silent, yet with a hint of sportiness. The new model feels significantly more massive, even though it is over 100 kilos lighter thanks to new carbon fiber structures. In this category too, the points are shared, although on paper, the new model should be significantly more advanced.
Price:
The previous generation all-wheel-drive BMW 750 can be obtained for as low as €20,000. But if we compare models from 2013 to 2019 with 30,000 - 50,000 kilometers driven, the price difference is about €60,000 - €90,000 depending on equipment. When you can get a more performant, nearly as high-quality and safe 7-series car with the same mileage for €35,000 as opposed to €125,000, it should make anyone considering buying a car for personal use think twice.
A 2012 7-series car bought today will lose about €5,000-10,000 in value over the next three years, whereas a 2019 model will see a price reduction of €25,000-35,000. Thus, a new car costs about three times more at purchase, and kilometers driven will cost about 3-5 times more. In this category, the points go to the older model.
BMW is one of the few car brands that has consistently managed to produce their cars with such quality, both in design and durability, that transitioning between generations does not bring a significant difference in use.
Condition of the evaluated individual on a scale of 1-10:
Technology: 10
Body: 10
Interior: 10
Explore this individual here.
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